Link-making machine



b e e h s m e e h S 4 R N H mm M G N m M GI K N I L. a d 0 M 0 w No. 395,143. Patented Dec. 25. 1888'.

INVENTE1R= WITNEE|EE5= (No Mode L) 4 sneets-snee-n z.

G. H. HOWE.

LINK, MAKING MACHINE. No; 395,143. Patente Dec. 25, 1888.

WITNESSES: I f v m Fig-2 m w r N. rnzns, Phuin-Liihagfilpbar, Washinglan. n. c.

(No Model.) 4 SheetsSh.eet 3. G. H. HOWE.

LINK MAKING MACHINE.

., No. 895,143. Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

(luv 0 I W1 TNE 55E5= INVENTUR (No Model.) 4 Shegts-Sheet 4.

G. H. HOWE.

LINK MAKING MACHINE.

No. 395,143. Patented 1l)@. 25, 1888.

INVENTUR= UNITED STATES PATENT @rricn.

GEORGE HUTCHINS HOWE, OF HOOSIOK FALLS, NEXV YORK.

LINN-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 395,143, dated December 25, 1888.

Application filed March 20, 1888. enial No. 267,838. (No model.)

To all 10710772. it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H'UTCHINS II OWE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hoosick Falls, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Link-Making Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and accurate description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object to form a link from a flat or other bar of metal with no waste of material and preferably at one operation. To this end the bar out of which the link is to be formed is fed into the machine after being heated to the requisite temperature, cut off in proper lengths, and a reciproeating plunger is forced downwardly through the heated bar of metal and draws the metal in the interior of the bar outwardly to form the side and end bars of the link, the metal being forced against suitable dies to form the desired contour of the side and end bars of the link. In this way the amount of metal forming the side and end bars is determined by the thickness of the bar out of which the link formed, and the proportionate amount of metal to be drawn out into the side and end bars is determined by the shape of the reciprocating plunger, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

My invention also consists in certain novel mechanism for forming the coupler devices on detachable drive-chain links,which are largely used in agricultural machinery.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention relates may understand how to construct and use the same, I will 110w proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. lfig. 2:3 is a perspective view of the table broken away to show the yielding sustaining-blocks. Fig. 4E a vertical cross-section through the table. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the dies which form the side bars of the link. Fig. 6 is a perspective of the plunger which forms the hook in the link. Fig. 7 is a perspective of the knife. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the die which completes the formation of the hook, Fig. 9, a perspective of the plunger. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the carriage broken away. Figs. 11 and 12 are vertical cross-sections through the table, showing the position of the various parts as the plunger is entering the bar of metal and at the completion of its stroke, respectively. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the pitman or connecting-rod. Fig. 14- is a vertical section through line 00 00, Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a vertical section through line a: m, Fig. 11. Fig. 16 is a perspective of the plunger adapted to form the notched side bar of a detachable drive-chain link. Fig. 17 is a perspective view of such detachable drivechain link. Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a plain rectangular link used for making harness-buckles or other analogous purposes.

A is the standard of the machine, provided with a suitable base, A, bolted to the floor. The standard A is formed with the vertical groove A in which the carriage C reciprocates, and the flanges A -one on either side of the groove A"which flanges or lips project between the parts 1) and I) of the carriage and confine its movement.

The upper end of the frame .A is formed with a bearing for the shaft (1, to the outer end of which is secured the pulley A and to the inner end of the shaft is secured the crankwheel A which has the eccentric-pin b, on which the pitman or connecting-rod B is pivoted. The lower end of the pitinan B is pivoted to the carriage C by a pin which passes through the hole 0 and the hole I) in the lower end of the pitman, which fits between the bifurcated upper end of the carriage C. It is evident that as the shaft (1. revolves it will impart, through the pitman B, a reciprocating motion to the carriage C, which will move up and down on the flanges A and in the groove A" in frame A. Between the ears 0 c on. the carriage C is pivoted the hook-finisher E (see Fig. 8) by .a pin passing through the holes c c and the hole e in the hook-finisher.

The hook-finisher E projects upwardly beyond its pivot, and at its upper end carries a frictionroller, 6. The hook-finisher E projects upwardly a sufficient distance, so that the enlarged hub 11 of the pitman B, (see Fig. 13,) as the crank-wheel A revolves, will come in contact with the friction-roller e. A spring, a is, secured to the carriage C and to the hook-finisher E above its pivot, and the force of the spring is exerted to pull the upper end of the hook-finisher E over toward the face of the crank-wheel A, so that the beveled hub 11 of the pitman B will strike the frictionroller c, and force the upper end of the hookfinisher outwardly against the action of the spring 6 and the lower end imvardly, the hook-finisher rocking 011 its pivot in the carriage O. This movement is imparted to the hook-finisher at the .proper time in the operation of the machine to complete the initial bend in the hook of the link.

The hook-finisher is grooved out at its lower forward end to correspond to the contour of the hook.

H is the plunger, which forces the metal outwardly from the interior of the bar to form the side and end bars of the link. The lower end of the plunger is sharpened at 72, so as 'to readily pierce the metal, and the plunger is wedge shaped, increasing in size from its sharpened edge up to the portion h h, where it end of the plunger F is pivoted to the link G at g and the link G is pivoted at g to the outwardly-extending arm G, which is bolted to the frame A. As the carriage O is moved up and down, the link G swings the plunger F, so that it will be substantially vertical when the hook is being formed on the link and back again to the position shown in Fig. 1, to slide the rounded lower end of the pl unger sidewise out from the hook to allow the link, which is carried upward with the wedge shaped plunger H, to slip therefrom. L is the knife. (See Fig. '7.) It is bOltQt atl Zto the carriage C, at one side thereof, and is curved so that its lower sharpened edge, which passes down in close proximity to the edge of the table M, will sever the metal of which the link is to be formed from the bar, which is placed in the slot N, (see Fig. 1,) and so that it will not interfere with the operation of the hook-finisher E, below which it projects some distance, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The table on which the bar of metal out of which the link is formed is placed is bolted at m m to the standard A. To the table M, directly beneath the plunger H, are pivoted at jj the yielding sustaining-blocks J J, so that the plunger H as it descends will pass between them and gradually force them apart. (See Figs. 3, 1.1, and 12.) They are moved together normally by the springs j which are interposed between each block J J above its pivot and the table M. The function of the blocks J J is to sustainv the metal or bar of which the link is formed and to allow the plunger H to pierce the same, to prevent the metal from being forced downwardly by the wedge or plunger, and to compel it to be drawn or pushed outwardly into the side and end bars. The table M is grooved longitudinally at 0, (see Figs. and 4,) and each side of this groove is provided with a recess, 1', into which takes a lip, on, either side of the dies P-of which thereare twoone on each side of the table. The dies P are beveled at their edges adjacent to the plunger II according to the desired contour of the side bars of the link. The portions D I of the carriage (pass down through vertical opeuin in the table M, and the curved portions (Z (I force the diesP P up toward one another, when the carriage ascends, and allow the dies to be moved outwardly gradually by the plunger H as it descends. (See Figs. 11 and 12.)

The table M is slotted transversely at N, and in the rear portion. of this slot is slipped the block or die K, beveled on its end adja cent to the plunger H, as shown at it, (see Fig. 3,) so as to form the rear end bar-0t the link. The die K is made so that it may be readily removed and another die inserted in its place, as the length of the link, it will be evident, is determined by the length of the die K, against which the bar to form the link is pushed as it is fed into the machine; or, in place of removing the die K and inserting a longer or shorter one in its place, an adjusting-screw might be provided, which would regulate the distance of the die K from the edge of the table.

The outer portion of the transverse groove N is provided with the recess a, which is curved to correspond to outer contour of the lower portion 01' the hook T. (See Fig. 17.) The rounded oblong lower portion, f, of the plunger F forces the metal of which the hook is formed down into this recess. (See Fig. 14..)

The wedge or plunger II is provided on its inner corner with the projection 72 which forms as the plunger is descending to its lowest position the notch X in the side bar of the link. (Shown inv Fig. 1.7.)

The operation of my invention to form the link shown in Fig. 17 is as follows: The bar R of metal, out of which the link is to be formed and of the width of the hook of the link, is heated to the requisite temperature and fed either automatically or manually to the machine in the groove N and is pushed up against the die K. The carriage C is then moved downwardly by crank-wheel A and pitman l3, and the wedge-shaped plunger H is forced through the metal in the groove N, the blocks J J yielding gradually as the wedgeshaped plunger passes between them in its descent, and the portion 01 of carriage 0 allowing the dies P P to be gradually forced outwardly by the descent of the plunger H. The knife L, descending, cuts off the bar, and as the plunger H continues its descent it forces the metal in the interior of the bar up against the dies I P and K, forming the side bars of the link and the rear end bar, and the projection 703 on the plunger II forms the notch in the side bar of the link. The plunger F, descending, forces the metal to form the hook down into the recess a in the groove N, and the friction-roller e, subsequently coming in contact with the hub b of the pitman B, forces the lower end of the hook-F1 nisher E up into position shown in Fig. 1.4, rolling the metal over the portion f of the plunger Ii. During the descent of the carriage (1 the link G has moved the plunger If, so that it is in a substantall y vertical plane while the hook of the link is being formed over its lower end. As the carriage ascends, the plunger F is swung into the position shown in Fig. l sidewise out of the hook and the link is free to drop from the plunger H. Of course the radius on which the plunger F swings must be sufficiently great, so that its movement as compared with the hook in the link will be substantially in a straight line. The same is likewise true of the radii on which the yielding blocks J J swing. The port-ions (l d of the carriage U, as it ascends, move the dies P P back into position for the succeeding link. It is evident that to form the link shown in Fig. 18 knife I, would have to be placed closer to the plunger II, and that the plunger i would be done away with, the hooktinisher E being so formed at its lower end as to form the outer end bar of the link.

The amount of metal which will be placed in the side and end bars, respectively, or in any side or end bar will be determined by the shape of the plunger II. If the apex of the plunger be of nearly the same width as the length of the opening in the link when formed, and descemls longitudinally to the length of the link, most of the metal will be forced into the side bars of the link, and if the apex of the plunger is transverse to the length of the link more metal will be forced outwardly into the end bars. I prefer to so construct the plunger II that it will draw or push the metal out into the side and end bars equally or nearly so in proportion to their lengths in order that the fibers or molecules of the metal may be disturbed as little as possible.

It will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 12 that the beveled shoulders on the plunger H and the grooves in the dies P, when the plunger is in its lowest position, form a circular or oval opening in which the side bars of the link rest, but that their points of contact are on a line diagonal to the movement of the plunger, in order that the metal may be forced outwardly into the side bars and that the link, when formed,may be drawn up out of the dies with the plunger ll.

Having now described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a machine for making open links, the combination, with a reciprocating plunger adapted to piercethe blank and force the metal from the interior thereof outwardly into the side and end bars of the link, of the yielding blocks to sustain the metal and allow the descent of the plunger, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a machine for making open links, the combination, with a plunger adapted to pierce the blank and force the metal from the interior thereof outwardly into the side and end. bars of the link, of the yielding blocks to sustain the metal and permit the descent of the plungerbetween them, and the dies into which the metal is forced by the plunger, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In a machine for making open chainlinks, a wedge-shaped plunger formed with a sharpened edge to pierce the metal out of which the link is formed, and its upper portion with beveled shoulders to impart the de sired contour to the link, in combination with the sustaii1ing-l )locks adapted to yield gradually to allow the descent of the wedgeshaped plunger between them and to guide the heated metal outwardly, and means for reciprocating the plunger, substantially as and for the purpose specified,

4. 111 a machine for making open chainlinks, the combination of the reciprocating plunger, the yielding sustaining blocks, the movable dies for receiving the metal forced. outwardly by the plunger, and means, sub stantiallyas described, for limiting the outward movement of the dies proportionately to the descent of the plunger and again returning them to position for the succeeding link, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a machine for making open-hooked. chain-links, the combination of a reciprocating plunger to pierce and force the heated metal outwardly to form the opening in the link, the yielding sustaining-blocks, and a swinging reciprocating plunger adapted to form the initial bend in the hook, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a machine for making open-hooked chai1'1-links,the eomlj i1mtion of the recipro eating wedge-shaped plunger, the yielding sustaining-blocks, the knife adapted to cut the bar of metal out. of which. the link is formed, the swinging reciprocating plunger to form the initial bend in the hook, and the hook-finisher moving inwardly to roll the metal over the swinging plunger to complete the bend in the hook, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a machine for making open-hooked chainlinks, the combination of a reciprocating plunger adapted to pierce the blank and force the heated metal outwardly from the interior thereof to form the opening in the link, a reciprocating plunger for forming the initial bend in the hook, a reciprocating knife to shear the metal at the proper length for the link, and the swinging reciprocating hookfinisher adapted to roll the end of the metal cut off up over the hook-former, and means,

as described, for swinging the hook-former sidewise out of the hook to permit the link to be removed, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a machine for'making open-hooked chain-links out of a continuous bar of metal, the combination, with the reciprocating carriage, of a plunger secured therein, adapted to pierce the blank and force the metal outwardly from the interior thereof, and the swinging reciprocating plunger for forming the initial bend in the hook pivoted to the carriage and to an arm secured to the frame of the machine, whereby the llook-liormer as the carriage descends is swung into position to form the hook and as it is raised is swung out of the hook formed around it, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In a machine for making open-hooked chain-links, the combination of the reciprocating plunger to form the initial bend in the hook, and the vibrating hook-finisher, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. In a machine for making open chainlinks, the combination of a plunger adapted to pierce the blank and force the metal in the interior thereof outwardly to form the side and end bars of the link, and formed with beveled shoulders at its upper end and the dies into which the bars of the link are compressed, said dies being also beveled or grooved diagonally to the path of the plunger, whereby the metal is forced into them by the plunger, and the link, when formed, is permitted to move upwardly with the plunger out of the dies, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of March, 1888.

GEORGE I'IU'PC I HOWE YHTHGSSQS;

DANFORTH GEER, v HUGH POMEROY BLACKINTON. 

